Soundbars are a great way to enhance your movie-watching experience when you don't have space for a full home theater setup. You can get great surround sound reproduction from soundbars that will give you an immersive movie-watching experience. However, not all soundbars are equal. While some are only capable of recreating stereo content, many have Dolby Atmos support that can help create an immersive experience, while others combine object-based audio format support with an arsenal of discrete speakers to envelope you, whether you're watching from a dedicated home theater room or the comfort of your bed. There's a soundbar that suits every space to bring the cinema home to you.
We've tested over 210 soundbars, and below are our recommendations for the best soundbars for movies. See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best budget soundbars.
The top soundbar for movies we've tested is the Samsung HW-Q990D. This flagship 11.1.4 model improves on the winning formula of the last generation Samsung HW-Q990C, so you can enjoy your favorite movies at home. In addition to the bar and subwoofer, the model includes two satellite speakers for spreading a clear representation of the source audio in the surround. Plus, the kit can get loud enough to fill your room without tons of compression to maintain the dynamics of the movie's mix. The soundbar supports Dolby Atmos with a myriad of correction tools to help tweak the sound to suit your space, like Adaptive Sound, room correction, and a seven-band EQ.
Unlike the previous generation, you can send audio just to the satellites in 'Private Listening' mode for the times you don't want to disturb others sharing the space, and you can also make groups to send the audio to specific speakers. The soundbar has HDMI 2.1 connectivity to expand its utility and very low latency, as well as 4k passthrough at 120Hz if you play games in addition to watching movies. On the other hand, if you don't need HDMI passthrough and want a premium built soundbar with a solid stereo spread, consider the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module. It has fewer features, but if you're part of the Bose ecosystem, not needing to download yet another app is convenient. However, the Samsung still represents a more feature-full soundbar.
The Samsung HW-Q930D is a more affordable alternative that's also great for watching movies. Released in 2024, this premium soundbar offers a stand-out performance with multi-channel content like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, both of which you're likely to come across on streaming platforms and Blu-rays. Though it comes with two fewer surround channels than the Samsung HW-Q990D, this soundbar still provides a clear and real feel with sound effects thanks to its two discrete satellite speakers. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and its sub brings plenty of rumble in action-packed scenes.
This soundbar doesn't get quite as loud as its high-end cousin, and there's more compression when you push it to max volume. Still, you may find it offers better value since it has many of the same sound enhancement tools for less. For example, the room correction feature automatically optimizes the sound based on your room's unique acoustics. If you prefer to manually adjust the bar's sound, a graphic EQ and presets are on hand. Built-in Alexa even offers hands-free control. Overall, this versatile setup is a great way to watch movies and so much more. However, if you don't have the room for satellites, the 2024-release Samsung HW-Q800D is a great alternative that consists of the bar and sub-only. Despite being only a 5.1.2 setup, it retains a lot of the sound enhancement tools for a balanced sound, though its surround performance isn't as impressive.
The LG S90TR is a solid mid-range choice if you want an immersive experience and have the space for an outboard subwoofer and satellites. While it doesn't have very impressive Dolby Atmos height compared to the Samsung HW-Q990D, in part because the satellites don't up fire, it still supplies you with a 7.1.3 setup with a rumbling low-end for action scenes and a clear treble region. Its discrete satellites help to track movement in the surround space during fast-paced scenes.
Alongside the discrete set-up, the soundbar supports virtually every audio format from Dolby Atmos to DTS:X with fairly comprehensive connectivity, so it can take advantage of the audio mix of your movies on various platforms. The soundbar comes equipped with room calibration and oodles of EQ modes to adjust the sound for every kind of movie. In the box, you get the necessary mounting brackets for the bar itself and cables, but you'll need to find your own workaround for mounting satellites. However, the satellites and subwoofer are wireless so you won't have to devise a way of hiding the cabling.
The best budget soundbar we've tested for movies is the Hisense AX5125H. It's a 5.1.2 configuration with satellite speakers and a sub for an affordable price. The 5.1 surround sound creates an expansive experience around you within space. One of its strengths is its impressive audio format compatibility, spanning common formats like Dolby Digital and DTS to object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so you can be sure it can handle your physical media or streaming. Plus, the frequency response offers a good amount of thump and boom for action scenes while dialogue cuts through the mix well.
That said, for the price, you get a sparser set of tools to tailor the sound and control the bar. It lacks a room correction and graphic EQ, which you can find on the LG S90TR, and the LG has a companion app, whereas the Hisense relies on the remote control for everything. Still, the Hisense has EQ presets and a bass and treble adjustment, alongside 'Night' and speech enhancement modes, so you still gain options for altering the sound. If you're looking for a solid home theater option and don't mind that it lacks 'smart' extras, it's certainly a versatile choice punching above its price.
Your local movie theater doesn't use a soundbar, so if you're looking to replicate the movie-going experience in the comfort of your home, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module approximates the big soundstage of the cinema with discrete speakers. It doesn't look like a conventional soundbar. Instead, it uses separate left and right stereo speakers that sit on either side of the TV with a small wireless receiver control box, two satellites, and a subwoofer, so you'll need room on either side of your TV. The kit is able to create a wide soundstage, in part because the L/R speakers are ideally already placed on either side of the screen, rather than a standard soundbar, which is rarely longer than your TV.
Each speaker has up-firing drivers for object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos, which yields the illusion of height while objects track well as they move in the surround space. The kit includes a few presets to enhance the sound like Sound Field Optimization and 'Voice' and 'Night' modes, in addition to a room calibration feature. That said, the lack of a discrete center speaker means the Sony creates a phantom center channel, which produces speech that's less clear than the Samsung HW-Q990D. For dialogue-heavy genres like dramas, the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra may prove a more flexible choice than the Sony due to its discrete center channel. Like the Sony, it can create a big soundstage, despite it's not quite as expansive, but the upside is better dialogue clarity in the center channel. However, the Sony still offers greater audio format support and wired connectivity.
If your setup has limited space, a small soundbar like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a great option. At under 26 inches in width, this compact soundbar fits easily into your living room, and despite its small size, it packs a punch with your favorite movies. The bar uses psychoacoustic principles to make its soundstage seem wider than the bar itself, so sound effects seem to stretch to the space around your couch. With Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital support, you can enjoy movies from different sources, including streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs.
Like the standalone Sonos Arc Ultra, this bar has a room correction feature called TruePlay that adjusts the bar's output to meet the unique acoustics of your space. Given its smaller size, though, it's not much of a surprise that it doesn't get quite as loud as the Arc Ultra, and its Atmos performance isn't quite as impressive since it can't mimic as much height in the soundstage. Still, it's a great choice for its size, and you can always upgrade it to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers if you want to improve its performance.
The Nakamichi DRAGON is a very large 11.4.6 soundbar that gets louder than the Samsung HW-Q990D, but it can certainly fill out a large room with ample punchy bass. That said, the Samsung sounds more balanced and has a more smoother companion app experience.
See our reviewThis article has been refreshed, and the Samsung HW-Q930D and Hisense AX512H have been added to the recommendations. The Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra and Sonos Arc Ultra are also mentioned in the article. The Nakamichi DRAGON has been added to the Notable Mentions.
Sep 18, 2024 : This article has been updated to add the LG S90TR as the mid-range pick and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module as the soundstage pick. The Samsung HW-Q800D and Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 are acknowledged in the text, and the LG S95TR has been added to the Notable Mentions.
Jun 17, 2024 : The Samsung HW-Q990D has been added as the top pick, and the Samsung HW-Q990C has been moved to the Notable Mentions.
Mar 19, 2024 : We've made minor adjustments to the text and checked that the products are in stock. However, there hasn't been a change to our recommendations.
Jan 10, 2024 : Product picks confirmed. Some text edits for clarity.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best soundbars for movies for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you want to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our soundbar reviews, sorted by their movie performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying recommendation from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.
Please remove Sony XM4 from the list and replace it with Sony WH-H900N. I don’t really understand how can you mention XM4 when you clearly mention in your comparison that the H900N is better. https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/compare/sony-wh-1000xm4-wireless-vs-sony-wh-h900n-h-ear-on-2-wireless/16490/617?usage=19&threshold=0.10 XM4 (by RTINGS) The Sony WH-1000XM4 have okay bass accuracy. The response is boosted, resulting in an intense thump, punch, and boom that’s suitable for genres like EDM and hip-hop. In songs like ‘King Kunta’ by Kendrick Lamar, the boosted low-bass makes the mix overly rumbly and boomy, which muddies the vocals in the chorus. H900N (by RTINGS) The Sony H900N have an excellent bass. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 10Hz, which is great. Low-bass, responsible for the thump and rumble common to bass-heavy music, mid-bass responsible for punch, and high-bass responsible for warmth are all within 1.5dB of our neutral target. Overall, the bass of the Sony is deep, well-balanced, and punchy, without sounding boomy or muddy. I had both. Had it because I’m returning the XM4 because it’s unenjoyable after the H900N. Mainly the bass, but overall.
Hi there,
There are a couple of things worth mentioning as to why the Sony WH-1000XM4 are the pick here and not the Sony WH-H900N. First and most notably, the Sony WH-H900N were discontinued years ago; we try not to recommend products that people can’t purchase. Even though the XM4 have been replaced by the XM5, they’re still available on the market, and can sometimes be found at a discount.
Second, we look into more than bass accuracy to inform our recommendations. Elements like comfort, build quality, and stability all factor into whether a pair of over-ears will be suitable for working out. Some people also prefer to have noise cancelling to block out gym noise, which the XM4 excel at compared to the H900N.
Third, sound is subjective. Some people may prefer one sound profile over another, bass included. Some people will enjoy the XM4’s very bassy sound as it can help make high BPM tracks seem more intense. However, both headphones can be adjusted using their companion app’s graphic EQ and presets.
I hope this helps give more of an insight into how we select our picks. That said, if you’re happy with your H900N, then that’s all that matters for your use! 🙂
Please remove Sony XM4 from the list and replace it with Sony WH-H900N. I don’t really understand how can you mention XM4 when you clearly mention in your comparison that the H900N is better.
XM4 (by RTINGS) The Sony WH-1000XM4 have okay bass accuracy. The response is boosted, resulting in an intense thump, punch, and boom that’s suitable for genres like EDM and hip-hop. In songs like ‘King Kunta’ by Kendrick Lamar, the boosted low-bass makes the mix overly rumbly and boomy, which muddies the vocals in the chorus.
H900N (by RTINGS) The Sony H900N have an excellent bass. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 10Hz, which is great. Low-bass, responsible for the thump and rumble common to bass-heavy music, mid-bass responsible for punch, and high-bass responsible for warmth are all within 1.5dB of our neutral target. Overall, the bass of the Sony is deep, well-balanced, and punchy, without sounding boomy or muddy.
I had both. Had it because I’m returning the XM4 because it’s unenjoyable after the H900N. Mainly the bass, but overall.
Update: Replaced the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless with the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, which offer an improved battery life and virtual surround sound.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
so i have the sony xm4. They specifically are not sweat proof. They have a known problem where the ANC microphone causes a very loud feedback noise in the ear, which is because the microphone on the main speaker gets damaged by moisture. The same is true of the sony XM5 which has specific guidance about not wearing in the rain, with wet hands, while sweating etc. As my XM4 are basically unuseable (if i want to retain my hearing), i need some new over-ear headphones that will not get damaged by exercise, and came across this article. But the article seems to have been written without any reference to whether the headphones are suitable for exercise which is a bit disappointing as RTings is generally great!
Update: Added the Beats Studio Pro Wireless to Notable Mentions.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
The Beats Studio Pro just came out on July 19, 2023. They are the successor to the Beats Studio3 Wireless. Have you tested and reviewed these versions? If so, when do you plan to release the results? And do the Beats Studio Pro stack up against the Beats Studio3 Wireless, and improve upon them? I’m about to buy a pair, but would love to read a Rtings review and see how they stack up against the Beats Studio 3 Wireless! 😁 Thanks!
I think you may have found this thread already, but yes we did buy them and you can track the review status here. Hope this helps :)